DUSHANBE, June 8, 2015, Asia-Plus – Iranian Minister of Energy Hamid Chitchian said he will discuss with his Tajik counterpart the trend of bilateral cooperation on water projects.

Speaking to IRNA on his arrival in Dushanbe on Sunday (June 7) to attend an international water conference, he hoped that talks on the sidelines of the event will boost cooperation between Iran and Tajikistan on Anzob Tunnel and Sangtuda hydroelectric power plant built with help of Iranian specialists.

Referring to the common cultural, religious and historical bonds between Iran and Tajikistan, Chitchian said both countries are planning a railway link between the two countries with participation of other regional states.

The minister said Iran is also interested in transferring water from Tajikistan.  According to him, this issue will be discussed during his stay in Dushanbe.

We will recall that Radio Liberty reported last August that Iran is looking for more water and some Iranian officials believe the place to get it is from Tajikistan.  The head of the parliament in Iran''s Khorasan Province, Mohammad Reza Mohsin, reportedly came up with a new and novel proposal and on August 6 he suggested building a pipeline.  Mohsin''s idea is to get the water from Tajikistan''s Lake Sarez, located in the Gorno Badakhshan Autonomous Region (GBAO).